Why do can good/tight poker players play -EV table games?

[NickMPK]

T.J. Cloutier, obviously a great tournament poker player, has a reputation for being one of the more tight/solid pros, but is also apparently a massively degenerate craps player. I have heard similar things about many other successful poker pros.

I don't understand the psychology here. I can see the appeal of table games, but how can someone who is so attracted to -EV gambling put aside this proclivity when playing poker and not be tempted to make -EV calls just to gamble?

And on the flip side, how can someone who is disciplined enough to fold poker hands for hours on end not have the discipline to avoid losing all their poker winnings at games which are obviously -EV?

[swingdoc]

Money is a tool and a toy to good poker players. It's not something "real". Why would they care if they dropped $50K on blackjack when they can just go get it back at the poker tables (or at least so they think)? That plus the need to feel the rush of the gambool and it's easy to see why the traits that make someone great at poker leave them busted in real life.

[NickMPK]

[ QUOTE ]
Money is a tool and a toy to good poker players. It's not something "real". Why would they care if they dropped $50K on blackjack when they can just go get it back at the poker tables (or at least so they think)? That plus the need to feel the rush of the gambool and it's easy to see why the traits that make someone great at poker leave them busted in real life.

[/ QUOTE ]

If they are such degenerate gamblers, how do they resist making poor plays at the poker table just because they feel like gambooling? Why would they voluntarily make bets that are -EV at table games, but not make those same -EV bets at a poker game?

[Capt. Busto]

Poker is the job, therefore they avoid gambooling. Every other game is just entertainment. They play these games for the same reasons anyone plays them.

[kyzerjose]

Action. It doesn't need to make sense.